Benjamin Franklin and the invention of America -- Pilgrim's Progress: Boston, 1706-1723 -- Journeyman: Philadelphia and London, 1723-1726 -- Printer: Philadelphia, 1726-1732 -- Public citizen: Philadelphia, 1731-1748 -- Scientist and inventor: Philadelphia, 1744-1751 -- Politician: Philadelphia, 1749-1756 -- Troubled waters: London, 1757-1762 -- Home leave: Philadelphia, 1763-1764 -- Agent provocateur: London, 1765-1770 -- Rebel: London, 1771-1775 -- Independence: Philadelphia, 1775-1776 -- Courtier: Paris, 1776-1778 -- Bon Vivant: Paris, 1778-1785 -- Peacemaker: Paris, 1778-1785 -- Sage: Philadelphia, 1785-1790 -- Epilogue -- Conclusions -- Cast of characters -- Chronology -- Currency conversions

Chronicles the founding father's life and his multiple careers as a shopkeeper, writer, inventor, media baron, scientist, diplomat, business strategist, and political leader, while showing how his faith in the wisdom of the common citizen helped forge an American national identity based on the virtues of its middle class

Read by Boyd Gaines